Your body goes through many changes as you age. It's typical for hair color and texture to change over time as part of the natural aging process. For many people, that means experiencing thinning hair or hair loss as they age. Fortunately, you can take steps to support the growth of healthy hair as you age.
How Your Hair Changes With Age
Your hair goes through several transformations as you age. Melanin, the pigment-producing component that gives your hair color, decreases with age, typically resulting in gray or white hair. The texture of your hair may also change as you age.
With age, your hair may become thinner and less dense. This thinning is due to changes in the hair growth cycle. The active growth phase of hair follicles, the anagen phase, becomes shorter, and some follicles stop producing new hair altogether. As a result, hair density decreases, and the diameter of individual hair strands becomes smaller. In addition, reduced sebum production causes hair to be less shiny, soft, and smooth.
Aging is also a common cause of hair loss. Hormone levels change as you get older, affecting hair growth. While losing 50 to 100 hairs daily is normal, hair growth declines with age. Male and female pattern baldness related to aging are common causes of hair loss.
How to Care for Your Hair as You Age
Aging and changes in your hair are an inevitable part of life. While you can't do much to stop the passing of time, there are steps you can take to keep your hair healthy and beautiful for years to come.
Wash Less Often
How often you should wash your hair depends largely on your hair type and lifestyle. Most people only need to wash their hair every two to three days. If you have an oily scalp and hair or exercise daily, you may need to wash your hair more frequently, but washing too often can strip away protective oils and leave it prone to damage.
Use Conditioner and Volumizer
Using a conditioner after washing your hair is essential to maintaining healthy locks. Conditioner adds moisture to help replenish your hair's natural oils stripped away during shampooing. Volumizers work to strengthen each strand of hair and add more volume overall.
Avoid Heat
Excessive heat can be extremely damaging to your hair. While a nice hot shower may be relaxing, all that heat can damage your hair. Hot water strips away your hair's natural oils, causing your hair and scalp to become dry. Regularly washing your hair with hot water can irritate your scalp, worsen dandruff and eczema, and even cause premature graying.
It's also best to avoid heat-styling tools, such as blow dryers, curling wands, and flat irons, which can damage your hair.
Eat a Complete, Protein-Rich Diet
While you can't control your age or genetics, you can control your diet. As you age, it's common to start eating less food. It's vital to include a variety of foods in your diet to ensure that you don't become nutritionally deficient. Because your hair follicles are made primarily of protein, it's essential to incorporate an adequate supply of protein into your diet. A multivitamin may also be necessary to ensure you get enough nutrients.
How to Care for Your Hair as You Age
Changes to your hair are a natural part of the aging process. While we can't change our genetics or turn back the hands of time, there are steps you can take to offset these natural changes and ensure a healthy scalp environment that promotes hair growth.
If you are experiencing thinning hair or hair loss and wondering what you can do about it, the experts at LH Hair can help. Our team can help determine the cause of your hair loss and recommend changes to your hair care routine and trichological solutions to help you grow and maintain a thick, luscious, full head of hair as you age. To learn more about how to care for your hair as you age, contact us today and schedule your FREE initial consultation.
